Levi Weaver of the Athletic reports the specific financial breakdown for Jacob deGrom (on Twitter): deGrom will make $30MM next season, followed by successive $40MM salaries in 2024-25, $38MM in 2026 and $37MM in 2027. Plus an option, with no guaranteed money.
Now the Rangers have committed $685MM on three players, $741 on four players, and $760.75MM on five players, they look to becoming closer to that .500 team they have been striving for. However with Bruce Bochy, they could get to 85 wins. The five:
- Corey Seager – $325MM
- Jacob deGrom – $185MM
- Marcus Semien – $175MM
- Jon Gray – $56MM
- Martín Pérez – $19.75MM
Then you have the Pirates who cannot sign Bryan Reynolds to an extension even when you offer him the largest contract in Pirates history. Oh wait, that is only $70MM to Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Rangers have three players currently with $175MM+ deals and the Pirates cannot meet the value for their best player and best since Andrew McCutchen. Pittsburgh has to be the worst run organization in MLB. The talent they have given away or let walk is astronomical. Gerrit Cole, Joe Musgrove, Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, and Austin Meadows. Soon they will be adding Bryan Reynolds to that list. It is not a question of if. It is only a question of when and to who. It really is unfair for Pirates fans to have ownership that they do have.
I used to love to watch the Pirates from the 60’s, 70’s, and the sort resurgence of the Barry Bonds’ early 90’s. Their last World Series Championship was 1979. I do not see another in their future, with their current owner.
As we splurge into the Winter Meetings, there has been some movement on both the FA and trade market. Outside of Shelby Miller, the Dodgers have been a lot bluster and speculation. I think MLB fans are some of the most impatient fans (yes, me included), and want to see areas of improvement developing for their teams. The number of fans that have given up on their teams because the Rangers signed Jacob deGrom and their favorite team has done nothing is pretty funny. That was December 2, and the Winter Meetings hadn’t even started yet.
Aaron Judge is looking for and is expecting 9 guaranteed years. He is an elite baseball player, but 9 years?
The Orioles have agreed to terms with 35 year old RHSP Kyle Gibson on a one year deal pending physical. This is a good move for the O’s they have some good young pitching in MiLB with Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall ready for the Show. Gunnar Henderson will be there shortly to join catcher Adley Rutschman to form a solid nucleus going forward. They are one of the dozen or so teams checking on Carlos Rodón. While it would certainly be an upset, I would not be shocked to see him there. They feel they are close. Could be a fool’s errand, but what if it isn’t?
The Brewers have seemingly pared their roster enough that they have zero intentions of moving Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, or Willy Adames. But then again, that is what they said about Josh Hader.
There will undoubtedly be a number of transactions that take place by Wednesday. Judge could be signed. Some are predicting Trea Turner could sign with Philly by then. Will the Guardians finally get that trade with Oakland for Sean Murphy? How many relievers will get signed this week?
What will the Dodgers do? I have said that I do not expect much of anything of significance. I can see the Dodgers perhaps signing Alex Reyes or someone similar. Before deGrom signed with Texas, I thought Justin Verlander could land in the Dodgers lap. But he no longer has a home in LA and is living in Jupiter, FL, so it looks more like NYM will give JV that 3rd year guaranteed and will sign him.
There really is nothing else even close to the surface for LAD on the rumor mill. It will still only be December 7 when the Meetings are completed, and ST does not open for another 2 ½ months. So while it is easy to grow impatient for news, this wait and see approach from the Dodgers is nothing new. There will be nothing, and then all of a sudden there will be the Christmas Kyle Farmer trade.
I am on my way home, so this will have to do for today.
Maybe there will be another Kyle Farmer Christmas trade. After all, he’s a shortstop and we need one.
His season wasn’t all that different from Iglesias’ in 2022 except he’s less expensive and his fielding metrics were stronger.
Bring Back Kyle!
After the Twins traded Urshela to LAA, they got Farmer in a trade from Cincinnati. Next…
Next?
I hope it’s a better plan than 33 year old .700 OPS shortstops.
What are Bauer’s projections? I see 71 innings at BR. 1.09 WHIP. Double those innings and he’s worth getting back. If he’s not coming back, it would be nice to be able to spend that money on a shortstop. Seems deliberate and patently unfair to delay the decision through the free agency signing period. This has gone on long enough. If he’s guilty throw him out. If he’s innocent, let him play.
A close to average shortstop and a third string catcher.
I realize the Twins traded for Farmer, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t trade him again. After all, they’re going to sign Correa so they won’t have any need for Kyle.
I’m just trying to save Kasten some money so he can lower the price of season tickets next year. 😎
But you are trying to do it with crazy trades. Tag you’re it.
A lot of nothing so far, but there is chatter that the Dodgers are considering JD Martinez. That was on the google news stream this morning. The only reason Kershaw has not signed yet is because he has yet to take his physical.
And if he doesn’t pass his physical?
Then he cannot sign until he does.
He can go to Texas. They may not care about a physical.
Passing the physical is a requirement for all players.
My prediction is an outfield of Betts, Outman, Thompson, and Hanigar. I would like to see Betts at second if Lux is the SS. In that case Taylor would become the 4th outfielder.
Reynolds is a possibility instead of Hanigar, the latter could demand a 3 year $45M contract. Busch and Knack for Reynolds.
Fred, I know you just do this to make me crazy. There will be at least 8-10 teams after Reynolds. He was at 2.9bWAR last year, which by current standards means he’s worth about $25MM this year. He’ll be making less than $7MM.
And you think they’ll jump at an offer of Busch and Knack? Yeah, maybe if you add Miller or Cartaya.
Miller and Pages?
Dionysus asked a question on the previous thread about trading guys that are Rule 5 players. I assumed sure we can, you can trade anyone, but I know there are Rule 5 trade rules that allow the receiving club to place that pick in the minors. I don’t know how it works, but I bet Jeff does.
Pages is not Rule 5 eligible. He is on the 40. Miller does not reach Rule 5 eligibility until next year. It will not matter as I am fairly certain he will be added to the 40 man some time this year.
Yeah, I know they aren’t Rule 5. I was saying those two for Reynolds. I mentioned yesterday that the simulator said that was just about even. Nobody responded.
If you are asking if the drafting team can option the draftee to MiLB, the answer is no for the first year. He has to remain on the ML roster all year. Players can go on the IL, but they have to be active for at least 90 days. The one exception I just learned is that players who just underwent TJ can keep them on the IL all season. That is why Duran could be drafted. MLB roster or IL. No MILB.
Ok, I thought maybe there was something about trading and/or the player not having to stay on the ML roster. I found this:
I believe the Rule 5 draft is Wednesday. As far as I know, you can trade anyone in your system up until the time of the draft.
Guilty. But I don’t think Reynolds will add so much more offense or defense than Hanigar, if any, that I would give up more than Knack and Busch. Differential Analysis. Does Berkeley teach that?
Reynolds can play CF but is now better suited to LF.
Hanigar is best suited for LF but can play RF.
Whether it is Hanigar or Reynolds, CF will be played by either Thompson or Outman.
Hanigar vs Reynolds offensively–you tell me.
Who else might the Dodgers obtain using Knack and Busch?
I would be happy with Haniger. Went to my alma mater, SLO.
I’m a Bronco.
Boise State?
Cal Poly Pomona school of engineering. We design and build a Rose Parade float every year, winning best animation often, and our sister campus SLO attaches flowers to them 😀
Your engineering school is famous for building Rose Parade Floats? Well, I’ll bet Carnegie Melon can’t say that. Congratulations!
I have no problem with your deciding that Reynolds isn’t worth much more to you than Reynolds is. My problem is thinking that there is any chance that Busch and Knack would be enough to get Reynolds.
Haniger only costs money (about twice as much in 2023 as Reynolds), but there is no prospect cost in signing him.
I wasn’t saying whether Reynolds wasn’t worth more than Busch or Knack. I am saying I wouldn’t offer more than that especially given the availability of Hanigar, Pollock, and Drury in the free agent market.
You misspelled Hanigar btw.
I spell Hanigar N I M M O.
Between Muncy and Nimmo who would swing less. Many have been critical of Muncy trying to get a walk instead of drive in a run. Nimmo would give us two of those.
It’s Mitch Haniger and Airplane Hanigar
My humor sometimes is very non apparent.
As is mine.
I must have missed something.
Marlins open to trading anyone except Alcantara. Maybe Dodgers can hop in and steal one of their young starters. Rogers or Lopez.
I have mentioned Rogers. But I do not think Miami will sell low on him. He is a perfect choice to go to the Mark Prior pitching clinic.
Lopez May cost too much. They tried at the deadline but Miami wanted too much.
The problem with trading with Miami is that they are looking for young controllable position players who will play in MLB out of ST. I would not trade Outman or Busch for a chance at resurrecting Rogers. There are plenty of those in the FA market.
It seems to me that we are overthinking things. “Let’s move Mookie to second and Gavin to SS”. Great! now we have two guys playing out of position. “Muncy can play second and put Lux at third”. Now we have Lux in an even weaker defensive position. How about we get a shortstop (there are 4 very good ones out there) and have Betts, Lux and Vargas play their strongest positions. Muncy and CT3 fill in or replace as needed. We have outfielders coming out of our ass and a stable of pitchers, old and new, to work with. Get a shortstop, pick up a few pitchers for Pryor to put back together and start the season. Viola!
McGriff elected to the hall unanimously. Mattingly came close with 8 votes. Bonds, Clemens and Palmiero received four votes each. Crime Dog finished with the same number of career HR’s as Lou Gehrig. 493.
Bob Nightengale, a reporter not exactly known for getting stories right, is saying that a number of execs he has spoken with feel the Dodgers are the favorites to sign Correa.
I’d be OK with that but I know that some of you might have to become ex-Dodger fans if it happens.
In other news from Twitter (also not necessarily accurate):
Mets are supposedly ready to offer Verlander 2/85. No way I can see AF matching that. They need pitching worse than we do, so if the story is accurate and Andrew actually matched the offer, Steve Cohen would just go higher. If the Mets want him, I think they get him, period.
I would be excited to sign Correa.
I’m fine with it.
I’m not sure how I’d feel.
I’d rather have Bogaerts, but if Friedman can land Correa? Heck yes. I’ve also read the likeliest FA SS candidate for us is Swanson. Whatever. The sooner this is done the better.